Hornets top Blazers

Tyson Chandler contributed 14 points and 16 rebounds for New Orleans/Oklahoma City, which has won three in a row. Desmond Mason and Jannero Pargo each tallied 16 points, and Rasual Butler scored 15 for the winners.

"When you start winning you don’t want that feeling to go away," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "Winning championships are the same way, but we have to take it one step at a time."

Zach Randolph put together his 27th double-double of the season with 20 points and 13 rebounds, but the Trail Blazers lost for the fifth time in their last six road contests.

"We settled (for shots)," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "We weren’t as aggressive as we should have been, especially taking 24 threes and not attacking (the basket)."

A three-point play by Juan Dixon had Portland within 76-74 with 11:12 remaining, but West and Butler each hit a pair of jumpers, and after a layup by Portland’s Sergio Rodriguez, Bobby Jackson nailed a three-pointer for the Hornets for an 84-76 cushion with 9:01 left.

Jackson hit another jumper for an 86-76 margin, and Portland could only get as close as seven the rest of the way.

Devin Brown scored 12 points for the Hornets, who committed just eight turnovers, four coming from Mason.

Brandon Roy had 19 points, Dixon 15 and Ime Udoka 14 for Portland, which shot 42 percent from the field.

The Hornets led by as many as eight in the opening quarter and were in front 29-25 after 12 minutes. It was 48-46 in New Orleans’ favor at the half, and the home team led 76-71 going into the fourth.

Game Notes

The Hornets have won five of the last seven meetings, but were 0-2 this season versus the Blazers before Monday...New Orleans shot 48.7 percent...Hornets guard Chris Paul, who has been out since late December with a right ankle injury, is expected to return to practice Tuesday.